Am I Going Into Labor? Signs and Symptoms of the Coming Birth

It often happens that pregnant women are so accustomed to the signs of labor and false contractions that they miss the true moment of going into labor. It’s amazing, isn’t it? But it happens. How not to miss this important moment? What are the signs of labor? What to expect? This article will help you answer the question: “Am I going into labor?”

Do not worry, we will try to describe some basic symptoms of labor that a pregnant woman may have.

Signs of going into labor soon

Your body gradually prepares itself for the process of labor contractions. You just need to be attentive to these changes in your body, which may appear 2 weeks before the true labor.

Your belly drops. If you are pregnant for the first time, 2-4 weeks before delivery your belly drops and changes its shape. At the same time, it becomes noticeably easier to breathe and to eat. This happens because the baby descends into the pelvic region, preparing for delivery. Those who previously gave birth may have this feeling a few days before delivery.

Heartburn passes. There is no pressure on the stomach and diaphragm, so heartburn, shortness of breath may disappear. However, along with pleasant feelings you may have sleep problems because it will be difficult to find a comfortable position, also, it will be more difficult to walk and to sit.

Frequent urination and diarrhea. One may say that such a sign is not a surprise. But note that now everything is a little different. Urination became even more frequent. The pressure on the bladder and the rectum increases. As a result, you suffer from diarrhea. Many women even confuse the signs of labor with indigestion. These symptoms may occur 2-7 days before delivery.

You may lose weight. If you watch any changes in your weight during pregnancy, you will easily recognize this sign. Before birth, you can lose about 1-2 kg.

Mood swings. For 1-2 weeks before birth, a woman subconsciously feels the approach of meeting with the child and tries to prepare everything for this meeting. It seems that you have enough forces to do everything. But try to calm down, save your strength for childbirth and the first days after it.

How soon I am going into labor?

What symptoms denote that it is time to go to the hospital? Only a doctor can determine whether it is time to give birth or not. He concludes by assessing cervical dilatation. But knowing all these symptoms you can recognize at once that labor is coming.

The mucus plug comes out1-3 days or a few hours before birth brownish mucus can secrete of the genitals of a woman. The appearance of the mucus plug indicates that the cervix has begun to disclose. This is undoubtedly a sign of going into labor. The abundance of discharge is individual. In rare cases, the mucus plug before birth does not appear at all. In other cases, the mucus plug can begin to come out even 7-14 days before labor.

ContractionsRegular contractions are an undoubted evidence of going into labor. Labor pains are always accompanied by the opening of the cervix and can not be neutralized by means of relaxing treatments such as taking a warm bath. But if a woman has false contractions periodically, it can be difficult to distinguish true labor contractions. If contractions are accompanied by brown discharge from the genitals, it means that you are going into labor.

Digestive SystemBowel movements usually occur before birth. Frequent toilets visits take place. Immediately prior to delivery, i.e. a few hours before labor contractions there may appear nausea, vomiting, complete loss of appetite or indigestion. Such a reaction of the digestive system is associated with the action of hormones which stimulate labor.

PainSometimes labor begins with the appearance of vague dull pains in the lower abdomen and lower back. They can appear periodically, or continue for a long time without stopping.

ChillQuite often, all these phenomena are accompanied by chills. It also indicates that you are going into labor.

It is clear that labor is a very exciting event. But try to calm down, and do not panic even if you notice some of these signs, and even if it happened earlier than you expected. After all, successful delivery depends on the concentration and tranquility of a mother-to-be. And if she is sure that everything will be fine.

thank you for that educative mesage there,it has made me more relax and less scared to have my fast born very soon,continue educating more mothers like me who are to anxious and dnt know what to do or expect

Born in Belarus, 1985, a pedagogue and family psychologist, mother. Taking part in procedures of social adaptation of the foster children in new families. Since 2015 is a chief editor of the motherhow.com project, selecting the best and up-to-date material for those, who are planning, expecting and already have babies.